Furniture truck



June 9, 1936. J. L.. DEMENT FURNITURE TRUCK Filed May 16, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1936, J. L. DEMENT l 2,043,887

FURN I TURE TRUCK Filed May 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 9,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT N OFFICEv 1 j. A' '1z,o43,ss7 l 1" FURNITURETRUCK q l l.num L. nement, san Antonio, jrex. lApplicationMay 16, 1935,ASerial' No. 21,865

A 'i' claims. (ci. 254;-9)

.This invention relates to an improved furniture truck which isparticularly adapted for *use when moving heavy and bulky furniture fromone place to another in a factory or store.

At the present time trucks are Aused when moving large and heavyarticles of furniture-from4 furniture must be lifted to a suflicientheight toV permit thetruck to be slid into place and if the truck maylbe freely moved into place under the article, it is still necessary toprovide means upon the truck to elevate the articlea sufficient.distance to move it out of engagement with the floorA so that' it maybe transported from the truck.

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a truck which is ofsuch height that it may be easily moved under an article of furniture,the body of `which is either quite close to the 'oor or at some distanceabove it, and an ad- I instable platform constituting part of the truckthen shifted upwardly to a position in whichit will engage the articleof furniture and support it in a raised position out of contact with thefloor; It will thus be seen that the heavy article of furniture may bevery easily moved upwardly out of contact with the floor when the truckis beneath it, then transported to a desired location, and lowered intoposition to rest upon the iioor.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the furniture engagingplatform of the truck that it may be shifted vertically very easily butprevented from having movement longitudinally or transversely of thebody of the truck and thus eliminate any danger of the furniture notbeing firmly supported while being transported.

4Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forvertically adjusting .the auxiliary furniture engaging platform andsupporting it in an elevated position, this means being of suchconstruction that when the auxiliary platform is moved vertically,itsfront and rear end portions will be shiftedl verticallysimultaneously and at the same rate of speed, thereby retaining thisauxiliary platform level and eliminating any danger of the article offurniture sliding ofi' of the truck due to improper balance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of hydraulic means foractuating the elevating means and thereby allow the auxiliary platformto be easily moved upwardly evenv when a veryy heavy article is to betransported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck of suchconstruction -that the hydraulic means `will be so 'located that it maybe very easily actuated without interference by the article` to beliftedand transported. l I

Another object of the inventionis to provide the truck with `a handle ofsuch construction' that the pushing vupon the lhandle and also veryeasily 'guided by aperson holding the handle, and to further so mountthe handle that when the truck isnot in use the handlemay be disposed inan upright position where it will be ou'tof thev way.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein 1 YFigure 1 is a perspective view of the improved truck. Y i

Figure 2 isa sectional view taken longitudinally through the truck withthe auxiliary' platform shown in its lowered position' in full4 linesand its raised position being indicated by dotted lines. Figure 3 is abottom plan view of the truck. "Figure 4 is a sectional view showinga'supplemental frame mounted upon kthe auxiliary platformfor use whenlifting articles having legs which support themI at quite a height abovea floor.

This improved truckhas a main platform I which may be formed from asingle sheet of strong metal such as steel of suillcient thickness andtoughnessto prevent danger of its bending or may be formedin sectionssuitably `secured together if'so desired. A supplemental platforms?which is also formedfrom sheet steelof 'suf-'- iicient4 thickness andtoughness to support the weight of a heavy article of furniture withoutbending is disposed over the main platform and is provided withdepending rods 3` which are slidably engaged through openings 4 formedin the main platform andv allow the auxiliary platformto be shiftedvertically but prevent it from moving longitudinally or transversely ofthemain platform. Therefore, the auxiliary' platform may not move'out ofits proper 'position relative to the main platform. There haveals'obeenpro-J the main platform. Casters 8, which are swiveled to mountingplates 9, are provided for front and rear portions of the main platformand are bolted or otherwise firmly secured against the under face-of themain platform adjacent side edges thereof. 'I'hese casters are of aconventional construction which permit the truck to be easily movedforwardly, rearwardly.; or transversely andytherefore, the `truck may bevery easily pulled or pushed and also may be easily guided when inmotion. The casters are preferably formed with thick rubber treads sothat the truck when loaded may be moved without marring the floor.

Shafts III and Il extend transversely' of the truck adjacent front andrear ends thereof where they are rotatably mounted in bearings I2 boltedto the main platform vand these shaftsjcarry rocker arms or levers I4and I5 which extend lon-v `gitudinally of thetruck and v are adapted tomove` Yupwardlythrough openings I8f and I1 when-the shafts are rotatedin a raising direction so that the rollers 'I8 and I9 at freeends-of thearms will make Vcontact with the underface of y the` auxiliary platformand shift theplatform vertically,

as indicated by'dotted linesln Figurevll An op- .erating shaft 20, whichextends transversely of the truck betweenthe shaftIIi .andthe forwardend .of `the main platform, is,rotatably mountedA in bearings 2| boltedto theunder faoewof: the main platform and this operating shaft carriesa crank arm 22 which is pivoted to=one endfoi' a link orreach bar 23extending longitudinally ofthe truckvand having its rear end pivoted tothe arm f `24 of a bell crank 1ever28 fixed to the rear shaft II. Theupper arm 28 ofthe bell crank lever has pivoted thereto a link 21 whichhas its other end pivoted to a rocker plate or blockf28 and uponreferring to Figures 2 andf3 it will be seenv that this rocker plate itsupper end pivotally mounted between bearing .brackets 28 bolted Vto Lthe underface of the main platform. VA reach baror link 38 which hasitsrear end pivotedto the forward portion of the block 28 extendsforf.

wardly therefrom longitudinally of the truckand at its forward end'ispivoted to a rocker arm-or lever 3I flxed tothe shaft I0. It will thusbe seen that the shafts I0 and IIY are so connected with eachother andwith the operating shaft 20 that when the shaft 28 'is rotated, therodor link 28 which connects the levers 22 and 24 will impart rotary motionto the shaft I I and as-this shaft ro'- tates, the link 21 will impartmovement to-the block 28 and as .this block moves, thefrod 38 and rockerarm or lever JI willjcause theshaft I8 to rotate with the shaft II inthe saine"` direction and at the same rate of speed.A Therefore, the eneck or reduced extension 34 which projects forwardly at the front endof the main platform. This base also supports a pump 38having'an-operating treadle 38 for its plunger-31. The treadleispivotally mounted at theupperend of a supacross a door shaft 28 arepivotally mounted so'that when the port or fulcrum 38 and has short ears39 betweenl which a roller 40 is mounted. 'I'he roller bears againstthedisc or head 4I at the upper end of the plunger 31 and it will bereadily seen that whenA the operator places a foot upon th'e treadle 5andforces it downwardly in oppositionto ac' tion of the spring 42, theplunger 31 will be depressed and oil forced from the pump 88 into thecylinder 32 toraise the piston rod 43. The rod of the piston extendsupwardly yfrom thecylinder through av packing gland A44l atv the upperend of the cylinder and at its upper end carries a, cross head 48 whichprojects from opposite sides of the piston rod and has its ends looselyengaged through eyes 48 at upper ends of arms or links 41 which-,extendvertically in depending relation to the cross head. At their lower endsthe arms 41 are! formed with forks 48 between which rocker arms orlevers 43 carried by the operating piston of the cylinder 32v ismovedvertically either upwardly or downwardlyyrotary motion Vwill he`imparted .to the operating shaft 2lland the'arms I4 and I8 causedtoswingvertically and raise or lower the auxiliary platform accordingtothe di- Vrection inwhich the shaft `2l|is rotated# It will thus be seenthat by sliding the truck funder' an article of furniture'or any other:object which it vis desired to lift and transport Vfrom one"-`pla.ce`to another, the truck`may be disposed? in its proper positionl undei thearticle andthe treadle 38. then operated toforce oil into'the cylinderto Vraise the-` piston and? cause the lauxiliary platform yto be shifted`upwardly until -thisauxiliary 'platform' engages: the article andmovesthe article toan elevated position inwhich its supporting feetor legswill be out: of :contact with a nfloor; The handle may then be graspedand thetruck either pulled forwardly or pushed rearwardly to move thearticle. to` the KAnew location andv oil then'40 permitted to now fromthe cylinder back into the pumpso that the auxiliary'platform will movedownwardlyto its ioweredposition and allow the articletoagain restuponaoor. `V

The handle, which is indicated in general by 45 `the numeral 1, isformed from a single length of strong metal which is bent intermediateits length to form a hand grip 88 having arms 8If converg ingvdownwardly therefrom and'then bent to pro- Y vide portions extending inparallel contacting en- 50 gagement with each other to form a,l strongshank 82 for the handle. At the lower end of the shank,

portions of the bar or rod from which the handle' pintles 88` whichVarerotatablyl received in the 00 bearings 8 and serve to pivotallyconnect 'the' handle with the mainplatformofthe truck for verticalswinging movement so that it may be dis'- posed in anuprightposition, asshown in the drawings, whereit will be out of the'way when 65 y thetruckis not in use or swung downwardly to anextended position in` frontof the truckwhen Ythe truck is in use.V The dimensions of the fork ofthe handle not only pehitsv the handleto be '.gs'wung upwardly -tothe'upright position shown 70 in Pigures'land 2, but valsoV causes thehandle to be.. connected..with the `main platform' adjacent oppositesides' thereof so that the force exerted when pulling orpushing upon'thehandlewill be well distributed and notl only permit the truck 75 tobe'very easily pulled or pushed but also permit it to be easily guided.

If an article having its body supported quite a height above the ilooris to betransported, the supplemental frame shown in Figure 4 isemployed as the auxiliary platform 2 cannot be elevated a sufficientdistance to engage and raise an article having relatively long legs.This supplemental frame or support has a platform 56 formed of strongsheet metal similar to that from which the platforms I and 2 are formedand about its margins is formed with depending anges 51 which reinforcethe platform and prevent it from bending easily. A lower frame 58, whichis of openL rectangular outline, is formed fromv angle metal and at itscorners carries depending lugs 59 which are to engage in the openingsorsockets 5 of the auxiliary platform 2 and prevent this frame fromsliding longitudinally or transversely out of its proper position uponthe truck.y At each side of the frame 58 is disposed lazy/,tongs 60consisting of strong bars 6I and 62 which are pivotally connected by apin 63. Lower ends of the bars 62 of the two lazy tongs are pivoted torear side portions of the frame 58, as shown at 64,`

and rear or upper ends of the bars 6l of the two lazy tongs arepivotally connected to depending side flanges of the platform 56 neartheir rear ends, as shown at 65. It will thus be seen that the bars orlinks 6| and 62 will be pivotally connected with the platform 56 andrear corner portions of the frame 58. At their forward ends, the bars orlinks 6| and 62 carry rollers 66 and 61 which make contact with sideportions of the frame 58 and the under face of the platform 56 so thatthe .links may easily move longitudinally of the frame and platformduring a raising or lowering operation. A threaded shaft 68, which has acrank 69 at its outer end, is journaled through the bearing blocks 10carried by the frame 58 approximately midway the width of the rear barthereof and this threaded shaft isA threaded through a cross head 1Iwhich extends transversely of the frame4 58 and at its ends carries arms12 which extend forwardly of the frame and at their forward ends arepivotally connected to the links or bars 6| adjacent their forward ends,as shown at 13. When this supplemental frame is in use it is set inplace upon the auxiliary platform 2 in a collapsed condition with itsplatform 56 resting upon its frame 58. The truck is then moved under thearticle to be lifted and the crank handle 69 operated to rotate theshaft 68 and expand the toggle 60 until the platform 56 makes contactwith the article. The hydraulic mechanism previously described will thenbe operated to move the auxiliary platform upwardly and as thesupplemental frame will be elevated with the auxiliary platform, thearticle will be raised out of contact with the floor. 'I'he truck willthen be moved to the position where it is desired to deposit the articleand after the auxiliary platform has been lowered, the truck may bewithdrawn with the supplemental frame still in extended condition or thesupplemental frame may be collapsed before the truck is withdrawn. Ihave, therefore, provided a truck by means of which bulky furniture orother heavy articles may be very easily lifted and transported from oneplace to another.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: Y

1. A device of the character described comprising a truck having a body,an auxiliary platform disposed over the body and shiftable verticallytoward and away from thebody, rocker shafts mounted under the body, armscarried by said said rocker shafts and movable through the openings ofthe main platform to engage the auxiliary platform and vertically adjustthe auxiliary platform when the rocker shafts are rotated, a drive shaftrotatably mounted and extending transversely of the main platformadjacent the front end thereof, a bellcrank lever carried by the rearshaft, an arm carried by the drive shaft, a link connecting the arm ofthe drive shaft with the bell crank lever of the rear shaft, a rockersuspended from the main platform for pivotal movement longitudinallythereof, a link connecting the bell crank lever with the rocker, a linkextending forwardly from the rocker, an arm carried by the front shaftand engaged by the forward end of the last-mentioned link, and hydraulicmeans connected with the drive shaft for rotating the same and effectingvertical adjustment of the auxiliary platform.

3. A device of the character described comprising a truck having a body,an auxiliary platform disposed over the body and shiftable vertically,front and rear rocker shafts rotatably mounted transversely of the body,arms carried by said shafts for engaging the auxiliary platform andmoving the same upwardly when the shafts are rotated in one direction,means connecting said shafts for effecting simultaneous rotationthereof, a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of the body, meansconnecting the drive shaft with one of the rocker shafts for impartingrotation thereto when the main shaft is rotated, a lever arm carried bythe drive shaft, and operating means carried by the body and connectedwith the lever arm of the drive shaft for controlling rotation of thedrive shaft.

4. A device of the character described comprising a truck having a body,an auxiliary platform disposed over the body and shiftable vertically,means carried by the body for shifting the auxiliary platform verticallyand supporting it in an adjusted position including an operating shaftrotatably mounted, lever arms extending from said operating shaft, anextension at one end of the body disposed between the lever arms, a hydraulic jack carried by and rising from the extension, a cross headcarried by said jack and extending transversely of the extension fromopposite sides of the jack, links' carried by and extending downwardlyfrom the cross head at opposite sides of the extension with their lowerends pivoted to the lever arms of the operating shaft, and a handlehaving elongated forks straddling the extension and jack and pivoted tothe body at opposite sides of the extension to mount the handle forswinging movement `from a raised position to a lowered position.

-5. A device of the character described comprising a truck having a mainplatform, an auxiliary 4 platform disposed over the main platform andshiftable vertically, means carried by the main platform for shiftingthe auxiliary platform vertically and supporting it in araised positionincluding an operating element having arms, an

extension for the main platform, a nydiauuc :ook carried bysaidextension and having'a cross head,

` links depending from the cross head at opposite sides of theextension-andv connected with said arms, and ahandle-for'thetruclshavingl forks straddling the extensionand. the said Jackandconnected `with vthe truck to mount thehandie pOsed over` the body forswingingkmovemeni: from a' raised `position to a lowered position. v j lf.

6. InV aV device of the characterldescribed, a

truck having a bodihan auxiliary platform dismeans for shifting theauxiliary platform vertically and supporting it in an adjusted position,the auxiliary platform being formed Vwith sockets, a removable frameresting upon kthe auxiliary platform and lhaving anchors engaged in saidAand shiftable vertically. l

sockets to prevent shifting of the frameupoyn the auxiliary platform, aload engaging platform disposed over-.said frame. andmeans for shiftingg the load engaging platform vertically. vand supporting the lsame in anadjusted position. w l n f 5 v lazy tongs when the shaftisrotatedwhereby the load engaging platform-may be vertically. ad-

` justed and supported inan adjusted position. 20

JonN n

